City Watched By Italians

06 Oct 2011 13:45:51

Ricoh Arena visited by reps from Italian clubs

A number of italian footballs clubs plus the Italian Football Federation have visited Coventry City's Ricoh Arena home.

Vistors from clubs such as Fiorentina, Cagliari, Sampdoria, Padova, Bari, Albinoleffe and Modena joined Michele Uva, the director of development at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), to form a twenty strong group which also took in the Amex Community Stadium at Brighton, the Emirates Stadium at Arsenal and the O2 in London and watched a recent game at the Ricoh as well as getting a tour around the facilities and staying in the on site hotel.

Visit organiser Ian Nuttall from Xperiology, said in a press statement: "The group was really impressed with the Ricoh Arena and Daniel’s insights into non-matchday events were invaluable as the Italians begin their own stadium renaissance.

“The Italians loved the match atmosphere at the Sky Blues match, the hospitality that visitors enjoy pre-match and their special overnight stay. It was a really worthwhile visit to the UK.”

ACL's Daniel Gidney said: “It is important to develop multi revenue streams and that has certainly occurred at the Ricoh.

“In fact, for many of our visitors the Ricoh is not synonymous with football but with attending conferences, exhibitions, the casino or concerts and that is the way forward for stadiums across the globe.

“The fact that the Ricoh was chosen as one of four examples in England for the FIGC UK stadium tour underlines the strong reputation we have built in Europe over the last six years.

“From talking to the chief executives, marketing directors and general managers who visited the city, we gave them plenty of ideas to go home with as the FIGC looks to improve venues and build new stadiums in Italy.”